100th Anniversary of WWI GB

Counting the days here too,  and finding it tough to commit to any other projects until we get going.

Ernie, nice work my friend!  Is that your first WnW kit? 

 Your change has been noted and fixed.

Hi Mike

Thanks for changing my project, my friend.  I'm looking forward to the beginning of the build.

I've done one other WnW, a Pfalz D.IIIa.  Great kit to work on. How is the Snipe coming along?

By the way, I think I have found a home for all those Pup wires.  The double flying and landing wires

were scary as heck to think about doing, but were surprisingly easy.  Beginners' luck. LOL

 Thanks for stepping in to help, Mike.

Ernie

For all of you history buffs out there, today marks the 100 year anniversary of Archduke Ferdinand's assassination. So that means the start of the GB is only a month away. I'm pretty stoked to build that Nieuport of mine, and I'm sure everyone else is stoked to build their respective kits as well! I'm looking forward to entering the world of biplanes and open cockpits.

It's gittin' close,It's gittin' close,It's gittin' close,It's gittin' close,It's gittin' close,It's gittin' close 

Heck, we're up to almost 300 posts on this thing and it ain't even started yet!   Can't wait to see what happens when we kick it off.  Man, this thing's gonna go into overdrive!

Real excited to get going too! But Grey Snake... I have to change my entry... I have been practicing on my technique as to stick and tissue construction, and am failing miserably when it comes to attaching the tissue to the frame, sometimes it looks great, other times ... well sometimes it looks great. I cant even guess at how many "wings" I made out of balsa strips I bought at LHS and how many attempts to attach properly. SO... Having admitted to these short comings, I will stick to my beloved styrene and build an RMX 1/28th scale SPAD XIII I found at the LHS today. Thanks! Have a safe and Happy 4th everyone!

Doug

Mike could you please include me for a French FT-17 Light Tank by Meng in 1/35. Thanks, Terry

Terry  -  welcome aboard!  You're on the list.  Nice to be getting more armor in here. 

Doug - bummer about your balsa woes,  but I love the SPAD - looking forward to seeing it come together.  Your entry has been updated.

Thanks Mike... Yeah me too. I always thought the SPAD was one of the coolest looking WWI aircraft and the Albatros a close second!

Doug

Hey Everyone! I certainly want to get in on this!  I am in the process of putting together a WW I dedication for the local VFW I'm at. I have a 1/28 Revell SPAD that will be done up in Polish Service markings and the 1/240 Revell HMS Campbelton that I will attempt to backdate and spruce up to resemble something looking like the U.S.S. Fairfax. I was planning on also picking up a British Mk. V tank to tribute the 301st Tank Battalion. I am hoping Tamiya follows up it's Mk. IV soon! Thanks! 

Welcome aboard Wiccan Warrior!  Your name and entries have been added to the roster on page one.  Very glad to see your interest in this subject and we're all looking forward to seeing your builds.  The start date is only 3 weeks away - we're getting close! 

I like what you're doing for your local VFW.  I have the same thing going on up here at our local museum.  They've got every bipe I've built in the past 7 years on display there.

GS

Please put me down for an Eduard 1/48 Nieuport 16. The last Eduard WWI plane I built was a joy so this one will hopefully be as good.

Wow, that roster`s growing quite quickly, eh guys? This is going to be epic!!

plasticjunkie, the list has been updated.  Looking forward to the Nieuport. 

Copy that, Rob.  We're at 32 and counting.  I'm so pumped for this GB that I can't seem to wrap my head around any other kits from the stash.

I'm actually pretty excited too.  I've always wanted to do a WW1 bird but was never sure I was ready for it.  Plus, I'm trying to get through this Pacific theater of aircraft series first...but I figure one or two here and there can't hurt. =]

Hell!! I might even start practicing my wood painting early that way when I start I can hit the ground running.  =D

F'n A!!  How 'bout that.  =D   Hope you took lots of pictures.  

I did indeed! They'll come in handy as good reference photos!

I managed to find a Macchi M.5 so put me down for that build.  It seems to be a fairly simple kit with a nice resin engine. The hard part is going to be rigging this thing.  Hopefully I can start it in a week or two.  I may also do a 1:48 Sopwith Camel. 

Alan,  glad you were able to find the Macchi kit.  The list has been updated.

rocker,  great shot of the Nieuport.  Those look like Rickenbacker's colors.  Is that the scheme you're going for?

Plasticjunkie, nice! The first biplane I ever built was Eduard's Nieuport 17 and it was fantastic. The N16 has the same plastic in the box. It falls together for sure, and there is just enough rigging to make it interesting.

Can't wait to see what you do with it!

I'm chomping at the bit to get started.  Building an Eduard Camel in the meantime.  As long as you swap the struts, its a fairly easy build.  First time I've ever done any true rib shading, as well.

sheptr

I'm chomping at the bit to get started.  Building an Eduard Camel in the meantime.  As long as you swap the struts [...]

sheptr, I've read this a few times now.  I have the Eduard Sopwith Camel at 1:48 for this GB.  What I read was that you swap the back struts with the front struts.  Which struts are they specifically speaking about?  I have looked into my kit already to brainstorm what I'll need to change or work on more carefully, but I haven't dry fitted anything yet.

bvallot

sheptr, I've read this a few times now.  I have the Eduard Sopwith Camel at 1:48 for this GB.  What I read was that you swap the back struts with the front struts.  Which struts are they specifically speaking about?  I have looked into my kit already to brainstorm what I'll need to change or work on more carefully, but I haven't dry fitted anything yet.

It's the interplane wing struts (the struts under the roundels). Basically, Eduard reversed the numbering on them in the instructions, and labeled the front struts as the rear struts, and vice versa. They are two different lengths, so if they are reversed the upper wing won't fit on the lower wing.  

The struts themselves are pieces B9 and B19, but I don't remember which is which. Regardless of what the instructions say, the shorter ones go in the front, and the longer ones go in the back.

I also highly, highly recommend a biplane jig. It is nearly impossible to line up the 8 free-standing struts and get the top wing on straight without it.  

Hope that helps!

Absolutely.  That helps a bunch! =]  It was pretty much what I thought I was reading, but it helps to hear confirmation from someone that's already confronted the problem. Many thanks.

one week to go....

I should probably ask this now before the GB kicks off......whats the best way to put rigging onto a 1/72 biplane? ? I have a few ideas floating around in my brain but if anyone has any suggestions I'm totally open to hearing them!

A whole Week!  egad, the excitement is almost too much 

Big Blue

one week to go....

rocker, are the wing split between top and bottom halves or all in one piece. If the latter, I would like the answer to that one. If the former, when I did the Airfix 0/400, I painted the inside of the wings i.e. the bottom of the top win and top of the bottom wing. Then I fitted these and rigged it, then added the outer wing surfaces and then painted those.

Rocker - for 1/72 bipes, I've had good success drilling holes thru the wings, passing a piece of nylon monofiliment knotted on one side (i.e.  - fishing line) thru the holes until the knot stops (usually on the underside of the lower wing), and then gluing both ends.  You'll need to then carefully trim the exposed portion of the thread and touch up the paint, but remember these holes are tiny do the touch up isn't too bad.  Here's an example on a Jenny: